Washing machine with tilt-out laundry assembly

Abstract

An apparatus and method for an improved washing machine having a tilt-out laundry assembly. The tilt-out action is achieved by a tiltable joint between the side of the laundry assembly and front standing struts. The tiltable joint permits a laundry assembly to rotate about the front standing struts once rear struts are removed from the rear side of the laundry assembly. In use, the service person removes the rear struts, tilts the laundry assembly about the front standing struts, and then removes the laundry assembly from the cabinet.

1 . An improved washing machine comprising: 
 a cabinet having a base, a top opening and at least one side opening;    a laundry assembly suspended within the cabinet having a front and rear side, the laundry assembly moveable between an upright operate position to a tilt remove position;    front standing struts having an upper end operably attached to the front side and a lower end attached to the base;    removable rear struts having one end operably attached to the cabinet and a second end attached to the rear side;    a tiltable joint between the front standing struts upper end and the front side of the laundry assembly permitting the laundry assembly to move between the upright position to the tilt position through the side opening.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the tiltable joint is a ball and socket joint.  
   
   
       3 . The washing machine of  claim 2  wherein the socket has a recess to permit the laundry assembly to move from the upright position to the tilt position.  
   
   
       4 . The washing machine of  claim 3  wherein the front side has support molding with a recess in alignment with the socket recess to permit the laundry assembly to move from the upright position to the tilt position.  
   
   
       5 . The washing machine of  claim 4  further comprising a cushion engaging the front standing strut to dampen vibrations from the laundry assembly.  
   
   
       6 . The washing machine of  claim 5  wherein the cushion has a recess in alignment with the socket recess to permit the laundry assembly to move from the upright position to the tilt position.  
   
   
       7 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the front standing strut body is a cylinder with an extensible rod.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine of  claim 7  wherein the cylinder contains a suspension mechanism within.  
   
   
       9 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the removable rear struts are rear hanging struts having an upper end operably attached to the cabinet and a lower end attached to the rear side of the laundry assembly.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine of  claim 9  wherein the removable rear strut is a rod.  
   
   
       11 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the angle of movement from the upright position to the tilt position is between 45-90 degrees.  
   
   
       12 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the angle of movement from the upright position to the tilt position is between 75-90 degrees.  
   
   
       13 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the laundry assembly has a hand grip between the rear arms.  
   
   
       14 . The washing machine of  claim 13  wherein the angle of movement from the upright position to the tilt position is sufficient to access the hand grip.  
   
   
       15 . An improved washing machine comprising: 
 a base;    a cabinet with top and front openings attached to the base;    a laundry assembly suspended within the cabinet having front and rear arms, the laundry assembly moveable between an upright operate position to a tilt remove position;    front standing struts having an upper end operably attached to the front arms and a lower end attached to the base;    removable rear struts having an upper end operably attached to the cabinet and a lower end attached to the rear arm;    a ball and socket joint between the front standing struts upper end and the front arms of the laundry assembly permitting the laundry assembly to move between the upright position to the tilt position.    
   
   
       16 . The washing machine of  claim 15  wherein the socket has a recess to permit the laundry assembly to move from the upright position to the tilt position.  
   
   
       17 . The washing machine of  claim 16  wherein the front arm has support molding with a recess in alignment with the socket recess to permit the laundry assembly to move from the upright position to the tilt position.  
   
   
       18 . The washing machine of  claim 17  further comprising a cushion engaging the front standing strut to dampen vibrations from the laundry assembly.  
   
   
       19 . The washing machine of  claim 18  wherein the cushion has a recess in alignment with the socket recess to permit the laundry assembly to move from the upright position to the tilt position.  
   
   
       20 . The washing machine of  claim 15  wherein the angle of movement from the upright position to the tilt position is between 45-90 degrees.  
   
   
       21 . The washing machine of  claim 15  wherein the angle of movement from the upright position to the tilt position is between 75-90 degrees.  
   
   
       22 . The washing machine of  claim 15  wherein the laundry assembly has a hand grip between the rear arms.  
   
   
       23 . The washing machine of  claim 22  wherein the angle of movement from the upright position to the tilt position is sufficient to access the hand grip.  
   
   
       24 . A method of servicing a washing machine having a cabinet with a pivotal top panel and removable front panel, a suspended laundry assembly with base-mounted struts at the front of the washer and cabinet-hanging rear struts at the rear of the laundry assembly, the base-mounted struts joined to the laundry assembly by a ball and socket joint, the ball and socket joint having recesses permitting pivotal rotation, a hand grip positioned upon the laundry assembly, the method comprising: 
 removing the rear struts from the rear side of the laundry assembly;    tilting the laundry assembly about the front struts;    removing the laundry assembly from the cabinet.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising removing the top panel from the washing machine and pivoting the top panel.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step removing the laundry assembly includes separating the ball and socket joint.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step removing the laundry assembly includes gripping the open end of the laundry assembly and the hand grip.